Wow. Just wow. Questions from a new player, The game is beating the crap out of me, but I'm starting to like i Options

[ksshan]

What a week it has been. Bumped into a friend whom I have not contacted for a decade. We were gaming buddies, and those were the days of counter-strike, diablo 2, and BG2 (has it really been 10 years? Kinda scary thinking about it. Seems like yesterday). Anyway, this dude is still playing BG2 with IA5, and he could'nt stop raving about it, so I decided to fire up my old BG2 discs (very scratched, but surprisingly still playable).

Well, I started off thinking, how hard could it be? After all, I did play tactics. All those guys complaining about difficulty must be 12-16 yr olds who have never played contra or ninja gaiden etc etc. Buncha wimps. So imagine my pleasant surprise when the suna seni encounter, ordinarily a walk over, decimated my entire party. Thats when I started browsing SP and BWL forums for more info, and boy have I learned alot, but still, I fear, not enough.

Well, armed with my meager new knowledge, I'm starting a new game that will hopefully make the game easier, and this time I'm sticking like glue to the suggested quest order. My usual play style is melee heavy, which seems to fit well with the play style of IA5 from what I've read, so thats cool.

So, what party would you guys recommand for the easiest time for a first time IA player? It doesnt have to be bioware NPCs since the dialogue has gotten old years ago. And since weapons have been revamped, and many weapons made inaccessible early game (I'm gonna miss celestial fury), who should use what weapons?

Thanks a million for whatever help you guys can give. This is the hardest game I've played since Godhand, though its a action game

[darkjeshush]

I feel you ksshan. I played world of warcraft before this with all alts 2300+ arena rating on the best battlegroups. I also have over 400 consistent actions per minute from years of starcraft, warcraft, violin, piano and trading desk at a large hedge fund. In short, I pretty much thought I owned at anything related to computer games or strategy. But when I decided to sample this mod, I quickly found myself in the back seat of a short bus sharing juiceboxes with all the other noobs. Ain't gonna name no names, but it seems that SOME distinguished developers have been experienced tacticians for so long, they've forgotten what it's like to be a complete noob.

I would suggest this group composition: Still a pretty abusive party, but will let you develop tactical skills fastest I think. Urrbody loves watching a newbie learn and master something they are already good at themselves. amirite?

Half elf Vagrant
Half elf Fighter/Thief (or half orc barbarian if you want to use perception/thievery/power potions on nalia to do traps and stuff)
Human Berserker 9-Cleric
Valygar
Nalia
Imoen

If you want easymode, godly, overpowered, cheesy, and will no longer work that well in v6

lawful good Half elf Vagrant Club/Flail/Axe/Longsword 18 18 19 7 18 12
lawful evil Dwarf Fighter/Thief Dagger/Hammer/Shortsword 18 17 19 7 7 16
lawful good Gnome Fighter/Illusionist Staff/Halberd 18 18 18 10 17 3 +1 wisdom from WK4
lawful good Half elf Ranger/Cleric Club/Flail/Mace/Hammer 18 18 18 7 18 3
chaotic good Half elf Bard Everything+ 18 18 16 10 7 18
Imoen Human Sorceress Staff Static

Multiclasses, gnomes, dwarves, bards, and wish will all be nerfed in v6. This group comp abuses every one of these things. You'll have access to all of the best items, best spells, best HLA tables, and all additional content except extended planar sphere (provided you dont cheat and cause bugs)